Dance to the desi beat

Amidst the flickering lights and golden curtains, the guests cannot take their eyes off the stage. The crowd is going haywire over the teenage boys dancing on 'Magic Mamoni.' A holud night is worth the hype. Now fast forward, to the day of the wedding. Everyone is staring at the couple and so are you, but the romance between the newlyweds seems more moving.

Perhaps Arnob's 'Bhalobasha Tarpor' playing in the background sparks a hope of you being in that stage too, someday. "Biye and boubhaats are so much more than kachchi after all," you mumble to yourself.

The daydreams are over because, winter is here my friends! This is absolutely not about contemplating another season of "Game of Thrones"; rather it is the time to groom and to put on our best shoes.

The wedding season is here! (Airy trumpet wedding tone in the background).

Amongst the many occasions of engagement, mehendi, holud, aqd, biye and boubhat, we Bangalis, know how to celebrate. However, amongst the 'London Ka Thumka' and 'Maahi ve' dance routines, the Bangla 'Jomjomaat' celebrations are losing their touch. Finding the right Bangla song might be a challenge but it is definitely not impossible.

Holud is the most anticipated occasion where cousins and friends of the bride or groom are known to take the dance lessons very seriously.

"Take it from me, the dance practice sessions are the most dedicating and memorable couple of days," said Kazi Nayeer as he recollected his memories from the time his friend got married. Songs like 'Leela Bali, Leela Bali', 'Dola De Re' by Mila, 'Local Bus' by Pritom ft. Mamtaz can be very fun group dance. On the other hand, 'Amar Shathey Chol' by Fuad, 'Dhakai Sari' by Niyoti can be a very fun for a rom-com duo.

No Holud can be complete without a parody. It can incorporate with mimicking the bride and groom with their favourite go-to songs or the 'Kala Chashma' by Gaan Friends; a parody song you just cannot resist from dancing.

"Playing the tabla, harmonium and the flute was a real deal during my time. I used to love playing the harmonium for cousin's weddings. Writing lyrics to a song which my entire family could relate to, is a feeling that cannot be easily described," says Rabeya Chowdhury while reminiscing her musical skills during a couple of her family weddings.

Overall, performing a musical might just be the new creative "throwback trend" that we can incorporate because every crowd loves a good musical!

With the holud gone, the wedding jukebox session is not over yet. The entirety of a wedding vibe wholly of biye, aqd or boubhat depends upon the music played in the background. A dramatic entrance is a one in a lifetime opportunity on wedding and it can be either fun or sophisticated.

A soothing shehnai while the bride enters is a beautiful scene to witness. One of the kickstarter for an epic entrance can be the "marching band" where the trumpets and drums are element of attraction that would seize the eye towards the bride or groom.

"During my sister's wedding, I made all my nieces wear sari with a bun filled with flowers. They entered the doors dancing, and the bride followed behind. It was probably the most adorable entrance I could ever arrange for my sister," says Rakat Zahan who takes pride in her choreographed dance routines and wedding decorations.

Imagining a wedding or a boubhat while some Hindi pop music is being played in the background is a situation you would not want to be in. You will never enjoy the song 'Cutiepie' with your kachchi or borhani no matter how excellent Anuskha Sharma looked in that video.

The main event should have a calm and serene ambiance, and this is made possible by beautiful acoustic music or an acoustic version of any song. As the wedding is all about the bride and groom, their favourite mellow songs in one playlist might be a pleasant surprise and the perfect occasion for them to fall in love again, every minute of the time they spend together in front all their well-wishers.

Starting from dance moves, to decorations to major saree twinning, we have been doing it all differently every year. So, keep your tabs open for new Bangla hits and more creative ideas. Let this year be another new trend we start with a Bengali spirit of celebrations and memories!

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Model: Shrabosti, Zaib

Wardrobe: Tangail Saree Kutir (Sari) Chondon (Sherwani)

Jewellery: Sparkle

Blouse: Jahin Khan

Styling: Sonia Yeasmin Isha